Virtual numbers are not always working for this purpose (real SMS either, but that's a different story), and it seems I still need a SIM card just for bank stuck in the 19th century still only offering SMS codes, thinking it's all safe and all good. It isn't but whatever.

So the SIM card I'm looking for, ideally has the following features:

It can be from any country

It is relatively inexpensive to maintain for my humble purpose: it's just to receive some codes

I can order it online without much hassle, it ships worldwide

Optional: no ID is required. Some countries require, some don't. Why give out my ID to every company, if I don't necessarily have to?

This setup is for long term travel, where any local SIM card used internationally for crucial stuff can be the weak link.

Have you looked at WhatsApp? They are encrypted and is free. You can change your number anytime you want. I have used it in a lot of countries. You also get free calls to anywhere in the world as long as you both have the app. Hope this helps.

Huh? I was asking for a real SIM card (with a real phone number, and certain other features preferably), and you were recommending me a chat app to chat with real people. It's apples and oranges. Sorry, I don't quite get it.

I might suggest Piranha Mobile. It has both US & UK numbers, has free incoming text and from what I understand only requires that you expend some small amount of your balance (e.g. 1p) every 400+ days. About the only country I don't see listed on their website is Solomon Islands. They don't require that you provide a photo ID but do need a verified e-mail address. As I recall, you can even pay in BitCoins.

Thanks for the Piranha Mobile tip! Never heard of them, but it sounds good.

I'm also thinking about maybe one of the more liberal minded (read: more international minded, nothing to do with politics) UK SIMs could do the trick as well. Such as Lebara, handed out at airports. As far as I understand, they should also ship overseas. this one requires a registration first, I can find out where it ships later. But similar ones ship overseas these days. Not as international as Piranha Mobile, but maybe international enough for most practical purposes.

I haven't yet done any detailed comparison between Piranha, Lebara, and what else, though. UK-based SIM cards also traditionally don't ask for an ID.

Note that although the FreedomPop roaming SIM you mentioned there seems to be no longer available (well the former UK supplied one anyway) it is possible to use the service even without a SIM - just install the app and sign up.